Flexible mount for a loom letoff brake

ABSTRACT

A mounting device for supporting a caliper-type brake assembly in operative position with a rotating disc on a loom which includes relative to the plane of the disc provisions for radially adjusting the assembly and in addition flexibility to permit lateral movement of the latter in a plane parallel to the axis of the disc as well as pivotable movement thereof about said axis.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee John H. Nydam Whitinsville, Mass. 789,109

Jan. 2, 1969 Feb. 23, 1971 North American Rockwell CorporationPittsburgh, Pa.

a corporation of Delaware FLEXIBLE MOUNT FOR A LOOM LET-OFF BRAKE 6Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 188/206, 188/7 1 .1 Int. Cl ..F16d 65/02, Fl6d 55/10 FieldofSearch 188/7 1 .1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,299,991 1/1967 DeCastelet188/7 1 .1 FOREIGN PATENTS 250,608 3/1964 Australia 188/205(.3)

Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Attorney-John R. Bronaugh FLEXIBLE MOUNTFOR A LOOM LET-OFF BRAKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionpertains to the braking mechanism for the let-off of a loom wherebyfrictional restraint is provided to a yarn beam for maintaining tensionon the yarn being unwound. More particularly the invention pertains to amovable support for a caliper-type brake mechanism which shall followthe normal and expected deviations of a rotating disc.

It is known to apply brakes of various types to the yarn beam of a loomfor restricting its rotation to maintain tension on the yarn. A brakefound to be highly suitable for this purpose, is the caliper type wherea disc, mechanically connected with the yarn beam, is frictionallyrestrained by opposing brake pucks. The housings which contain the brakepucks have been supported by brackets secured to the framework of theloom. There has been no allowance for movement of the housings so thatany variations in the plane of rotation which the disc might take haveresulted in excess friction or binding between the parts andfluctuations in the yarn tension. The variations between the rotatingdisc and the fixed brackets are relatively minor, yet the fluctuation intension readings may be significant and will appear adversely in thewoven material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a mounting bracket forthe brake of a friction let-off which, by means of a flexible memberpermits the brake pucks or shoes to stay parallel with the rotatingcontrol disc at all times. The tension readings on the yarn will remainmore nearly constant due to the lack of outside or undesirable frictioncaused by deviations in the rotating disc.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to devise a mountingbracket which will allow a caliper type brake to alter its position andconform to that being taken by the rotating disc.

It is a further object of this invention to devise a mounting bracketwhich shall provide rigid vertical support, yet allow slight changes inposition through rotative or tilting movement.

It is a still further object to devise a mounting bracket for a calipertype brake which shall be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture andsimple to apply.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as furtherdetails are disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be described byreference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in theaccompanying FIGS. of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation as applied to the side of a loom;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of that shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to FIG. 1, aportion of a loomside is shown to orient the invention in relation toany common weaving loom. A friction let-off, designated generally as 21,is shown in this disclosure as a caliper-type brake, a known means forletting-off warp yarns under tension. A rotatable disc 22 is secured forrotation with a shaft 23 which may be positively driven in anyconvenient manner such as gearing (not shown) in mesh with the yarn beamgear (also not shown). Friction let-offs of various types, being wellknown in the art, will not require illustration here for completeunderstanding of their function. It is sufficient to say that the disc22 is in direct con- 'nection with a yarn beam and any frictionalrestraint or release applied to the disc will similarly affect the beam.

Caliper-type disc brakes are commercially available for use ininstallations of this kind. The one shown in the drawing may be obtainedfrom H-H Products Company Inc. of Milwaukee,

Wisconsin. It includes opposingly disposed interconnected housings 24and 25 each containing a brake puck 26 and 27 with at least one puckbeing movable toward the other and an.

intervening space through which the disc 22 will rotate (FIG.

3). Controlled hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is applied to the housing24, as shown in FIG. 1, by a hose 28. In the brake 5 shown herein, thepuck 27 is stationary while the puck 26 is movable toward and away fromthe disc 22. The whole combination is permitted slight movement along abolt 29 to compensate for gradual wear upon the brake pucks.

- The brake 21 is secured by screws 30 and 31 to the upper surface of abracket 32'which will support the brake 21 in position to act upon thedisc 22. The bracket 32 has an upwardly angled finger :33 which isdirected toward, but separated from, a rigid arm 34 (FIG. 2). The arm 34is pivotally supported by a-ball joint end 35 fastened to a lug 36 whichis held by screws 37 and'38 into the loomside 20. The finger 33 and arm34 are maintained in spaced separation by a flexible flat spring 39which is fastened'to each by pairs of screws 40 and 41 (FIG. 2). Toreinforce the spring 39v at the areas of contact with the finger 3'3 andarm 34, two pairs of plates 42-43 and 4445 are fastened to oppositesides of the spring 39 by the screws 40 and 41. The plates 42 and 43 areseparated from the plates 44 and 45 by the same distance of separationas that between the finger 33 and arm 34 as illustrated at point 46 inFIG. 2. The spring 39 is overlapped at its ends by the reinforcingplates and conforms generally to their configuration (FIG. 1).

Beneath the bracket 32 and bearing upwardly upon its under surface is anadjusting screw 47 threaded through an angular bracket 48 held by screws49 .upon theloomside 20. The bracket 32 will be held on the point of thescrew 47 and may be raised or lowered to be properly positioned inrelation to the disc 22. The bracket 32 may pivot or move laterally uponthe screw 47 as it rests loosely thereon.

As the disc 22 is caused to rotate it may deviate from a true circularpath or from a single plane. Were the brake mechanism 21 fastenedsecurely to the loomside 20, deviation would result in unnecessaryfriction or binding of the disc 22. With the instant mounting device,the bracket 22 which supports the brake 21 is flexible and movement maybe effected relative to the supported rigid arm 34. Whenever angularpressure is exerted against the brake 21, the spring 39, through aflexing motion, will maintain a continual parallel relationship betweenthe brake 21 and the disc 22.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved'and other advantageous results attained.

I claim:

1. A disc brake assembly comprising a rotatable disc, a caliperembracing a peripheral portion of said disc and selectively operable toclamp said disc to restrain rotation thereof, the improvementcomprising:

' a. mounting means supporting said caliper in operative relationshipwith a peripheral portion of said disc embraced thereby and permittinglimited lateral movement of said caliper relative to the plane of thedisc and pivotable movement thereof about an axis parallel to the axisof said disc; and

b. means to establish the pivotal position of the caliper relative tothe periphery of the disc without restraining the limited lateralmovement of the caliper relative to the disc.

2. For a loom let-off mechanism having a positively driven 65 rotatingdisc, a caliper-type brake assembly disposed for applying frictionalrestraining forces upon opposite sides of said disc which includes:

a. a mounting device for supporting said brake assembly in an operativerelationship with said rotating disc including a flexible connectingmember fastened intermediate the ends of said mounting device;

b. said mounting device further including a supported end and asupportingend and said connecting member permitting relative movementbetween the supporting and supported ends;

c. the supported end including a rigid arm pivotably secured to the loomand removably fastened to said connecting member;

d. said supporting end including a bracket removably fastened to saidconnecting member and having said brake assembly fastened upon the uppersurface thereof wherein said bracket and said arm are maintained inspaced separation by said connecting member; and

e. said connecting member defining a flat spring adapted to be fastenedsecurely to both said bracket and said arm.

3. The mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein said mounting devicefurther includes at least two spaced apart reinforcing plates partiallyoverlying and fastened to said

1. A disc brake assembly comprising a rotatable disc, a caliperembracing a peripheral portion of said disc and selectively operable toclamp said disc to restrain rotation thereof, the improvementcomprising: a. mounting means supporting said caliper in operativerelationship with a peripheral portion of said disc embraced thereby andpermitting limited lateral movement of said caliper relative to theplane of the disc and pivotable movement thereof about an axis parallelto the axis of said disc; and b. means to establish the pivotal positionof the caliper relative to the periPhery of the disc without restrainingthe limited lateral movement of the caliper relative to the disc.
 2. Fora loom let-off mechanism having a positively driven rotating disc, acaliper-type brake assembly disposed for applying frictional restrainingforces upon opposite sides of said disc which includes: a. a mountingdevice for supporting said brake assembly in an operative relationshipwith said rotating disc including a flexible connecting member fastenedintermediate the ends of said mounting device; b. said mounting devicefurther including a supported end and a supporting end and saidconnecting member permitting relative movement between the supportingand supported ends; c. the supported end including a rigid arm pivotablysecured to the loom and removably fastened to said connecting member; d.said supporting end including a bracket removably fastened to saidconnecting member and having said brake assembly fastened upon the uppersurface thereof wherein said bracket and said arm are maintained inspaced separation by said connecting member; and e. said connectingmember defining a flat spring adapted to be fastened securely to bothsaid bracket and said arm.
 3. The mechanism as defined in claim 2,wherein said mounting device further includes at least two spaced apartreinforcing plates partially overlying and fastened to said spring. 4.The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting device furtherincludes two spaced apart reinforcing plates fastened upon each side ofsaid spring in opposing matching relationship.
 5. The mechanism asdefined in claim 3 which further includes a vertically adjustable pivotpoint means disposed beneath said bracket for providing support whileallowing pivotal and lateral movement by said bracket.
 6. The mechanismas defined in claim 5 wherein said pivot point means includes anadjusting screw supported beneath said bracket and upwardly directed.